Diplomatic Spat: Morocco Recalls Ambassador in Nigeria...
A diplomatic spat may be brewing between Nigeria and Morocco over the North African country’s anger with Nigeria for lying over a nonexistent phone conversation between President Goodluck Jonathan and the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI.
As a mark of its displeasure with the Nigerian government, Morocco has recalled its ambassador in Abuja for consultation, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation said Tuesday.
Morocco’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday had stated that its King had refused to take a phone call from Jonathan, adding that the call was aimed at influencing Muslim votes in the forthcoming Nigerian elections.
However, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied reports that Jonathan had been snubbed by King Mohammed because he was trying to curry favour with Muslim voters, stating that both leaders had spoken while the latter was in Paris, France.
“Since the King was in France and not in Morocco, both leaders spoke extensively over the phone on matters of mutual interest and concern that have nothing to do with the conduct of re-scheduled elections in Nigeria.
“It is therefore preposterous to suggest that Mr. President’s telephone call to the Moroccan monarch was intended to confer any electoral advantage to the president,” the statement issued by the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Sunday.
But rebutting the statement, Morocco’s foreign ministry said: “Contrary to the allegations made by Nigerian authorities to the ambassador of HM the King in Abuja and local media, the Kingdom of Morocco confirms, in the clearest and strongest terms, that there has never been a phone conversation between HM King Mohammed VI and the President (Goodluck Jonathan) of this country."
“HM the King has actually declined the request of the Nigerian government because it is part of the internal electioneering and this country’s fundamentally hostile positions with regard to the territorial integrity of the kingdom,” the statement said.
“The Kingdom of Morocco expresses its astonishment and denunciation to these unethical practices that are contrary to the spirit of responsibility that must prevail in relations between states,” the ministry added.
“Accordingly, the Kingdom of Morocco has decided the immediate recall of the ambassador of HM the King in Abuja for consultation,” the statement concluded.
Also, Morocco, in a communique on the ministry’s website said contrary to what the Nigerian government conveyed to the media, it confirms in the “clearest and strongest manner, that there has never been a telephone conversation between His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, and the President of this country.”
The communique added that the king did in fact decline the request of the Nigerian authorities, as it comes under the framework of internal electoral manoeuvring.
It explained that the request of the Nigerian authorities for a telephone conversation seemed like an act for wooing the Muslim electorate of Nigeria rather than a normal diplomatic initiative.
It also cited what it said was the extremely hostile position of Nigeria regarding Morocco’s territorial integrity, referring to the matter of the Western Sahara, which Nigeria has recognised as an independent state with full diplomatic relations, despite occupation by Morocco.
“Consequently, the Kingdom of Morocco has decided to recall immediately the Ambassador of His Majesty the King to Abuja, for consultations,” it said.
“The Kingdom of Morocco expresses its astonishment and condemnation of these practices which are against ethics and the spirit of responsibility which should govern relations between states,” it added.
A recent communique on the Moroccan foreign ministry website also suggested that Morocco is unhappy with Nigeria for abstaining from a crucial vote on the UN draft resolution on Palestinian statehood at the UN in January this year.
Attempts to get a reaction of the Nigerian foreign ministry over the now disputed statement failed, as the minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali, did not respond to a text message sent to his phone.
But a source told THISDAY that the ministry may not have understood the clear facts of the matter before rushing to issue the statement in a move that has now embarrassed Nigeria.